CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Florida State’s Lajae Jones was born to be a rebounder.

His father, Jackie, was a prolific rebounder during his college career at Barton Community College and the University of Oklahoma. He was an All-American at Barton where he averaged in double-figures in rebounds, and was also named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year at the University of Oklahoma largely because of his defensive efforts.

It only makes sense that Lajae, who was born into a basketball family, would take after his father and develop into an outstanding rebounder.

Lajae was also an All-American at Barton and led the Cougars to the national junior college championship in 2024. He averaged 15.4 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting .540 percent from the field in his only season at Barton.

Rebounding was especially important to the senior in Florida State’s most recent game against Wake Forest when he pulled down 10 rebounds including a career-high eight defensive rebounds.

It’s been important to the Neptune Beach, Fla., native throughout his career as he needs just two rebounds to reach the 300 rebound plateau for his Division I playing career.

Jones enters Tuesday’s game at Miami as Florida State’s leading rebounder in ACC play with a 5.8 rebounds per game average. He’s rebounded the basketball especially well since conference play began in late December and has earned above his season average in both of the last two games with seven rebounds at Syracuse and 10 against the Demon Deacons.

The Seminoles will need another exceptional rebounding effort from Jones as the teams enter the first of two meetings between the two teams.  Miami is ranked third in the ACC in rebounding margin (+8.8), third in offensive rebounding (12.7 per game) and sixth in scoring defense as they allow less than 70 points per game in its first 18 contests of the season.

Tuesday’s game between the Seminoles and the Hurricanes is set for 7:00 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPNU. Doug Sherman and former North Carolina Tar Heel Scott Williams, who averaged 6.2 rebounds per game during his collegiate career, will be behind the microphones. The game can also be heard on the Seminole Sports Network with Jeff Culhane and Jacob Ridenhour.

“Rebounding has always been important to me,” said Jones as the Seminoles began their preparations for Miami.  “It’s a very important part of what our coaches want us to do. The more rebounds we can get, the more possessions we can have to attack at our offensive end of the court. At the same time, the more rebounds we get, the more we can limit the opponents chances on their offensive end.”

Jones’ effort on both the offensive and defensive glass against Wake Forest allowed the Seminoles to record a +16 rebound margin (44-28) marking the 10^th time in their 18 games of the season they have outrebounded their opponent. The +16 rebound margin against the Deacons is tied for the Seminoles’ largest margin of the season which also came against Alabama State and Jacksonville.

“We need Lajae to rebound and go to the boards like he did against Wake Forest,” said head coach Luke Loucks. “We need all of our players to rebound like Lajae did on Saturday. He gave maximum rebounding effort and that’s the effort we have to have from all of our players in each game for us to have a chance at winning. It’s as simple as that.”

Including his double-digit rebounding effort against Wake Forest, Jones has pulled down six rebounds or more in seven games this season. He’s led the team in rebounding four times including his effort against Wake Forest.

But he’s far from satisfied.

When asked about his rebounding total against Wake Forest, he had only one response.

“I should have had more,” said Jones. “Looking back at the video, I should have had 15 rebounds. I had seven rebounds in the first half and only three in the second half. I need to work harder as a rebounder for our team to be successful.”

As with any successful player, Jones has goals for himself which include how many rebounds he would like to average in each game.

“I should be averaging at least eight rebounds a game,” said Jones. “For me to reach the level I’m capable of, I have to work harder and crash the boards with more intensity.”

Jones, who scored his career-high of 36 points on a program-record tying 10 3-point shots made against Georgia Southern in his fifth game as a Seminole, continues has produce on the offensive end of the court.

He’s made one 3-point shot in Florida State’s game against Wake Forest and has now made at least one 3-point field goal in a team-best 12 consecutive games and averages 1.3 3FGM in each of his 62 games at the Division I level. He’s Florida State’s third leading scorer at 11.1 points per game and has scored in double figures in 11 different games as a Seminole.

Loucks knew what he was getting when Jones signed to play at Florida State after one season at St. Bonaventure University.

“We felt that with Lajae’s combination of being well coached throughout his career, having a pro-level body, and his athleticism, along with his mobility, that he would fit perfectly into what we’re trying to build.”

As a leader for the Seminoles both on and off of the court, Jones is committed being that leader who can be counted on in every way in every game by his coaches and teammates.